“[Awaking to awareness] gives you everything that is beautiful, everything that is fragrant. Your existence is all-pervading. All the four Vedas do not know how to praise you.” ~ Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Pointers

A thought cannot be aware of awareness. So what is it that is aware of the thought?

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Meditation and mindfulness are merely thinking about those activities. You never move from the mental and conceptual realms when you engage in either of those undertakings.

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My body is temporarily here. But whose body is it? It's not my body, really. Does the wave in the ocean own itself?

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Though you may have aged, what is it that has not changed? Contemplate that as you read these words. What is it that has not altered in the least? And remember, it can't be consciousness because consciousness changes (you sleep, wake, dream, etc). So what is it that, unequivocally, has not moved?

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The primarycause of sorrow is not our grasping for happiness, but our identification with the mind, body, and sensations. We try to find lasting happiness through each of them every single day; and we can't because each is constantly changing. Yet, we continue to give them our every hope. You are that which is aware of your body, thoughts, and sensations. You are awareness itself--which is directly in front of you.

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The recognition of Truth doesn't take place over time. Presence is suddenly seen or discerned, and that's the end of it. However, your body/mind's experience with this understanding will occur over the apparentness of time, as your life is being lived. But self-knowledge itself is not gradual, and any teaching that says so is false.

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The mind is not composed of thoughts. The Mind is a thought. When the thought disappears, so does the mind.

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Don't read nondual books just for knowledge. See what the words are pointing to. And what they are pointing to is any pause, stillness, or penetrating insight. Bring your full attention to any of these, and Freedom can be found.

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Awakening is a sudden seeing of what you truly are. The "who" remains, but it is merely functional. This "I" allows us to communicate and go about our daily lives. After all, there is still errands to be run, conversations to be had, and laundry to be done. But your personality pretty much remains as it is, though thoughts and reactions have far less weight now.

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One of the worst things you can do is to sit uncomfortably when you are attempting to understand the nature of Reality.

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You see, it's okay for the thinker to come to an end--because it was never there in the first place. So don't fear or envision that you will be "losing" some precious something with self-knowledge. Thinking will continue; it's just that thoughts won't unnecessarily be linked together into some defined or imagined whole.

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News & Info

John Wheeler's Web site is no longer up. But earnest and serious seekers (and that's the only kind we have here at "Radiance") can reach him at: johnwheeler111@yahoo.com

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RECENTLY IN: "Just wanted to tell you that A Vastness All Around is, hands down, one of the best books on nonduality. Thank you for all of your writing." --Alex Taylor

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Here's a review of the Kindle Edition of A Vastness All Around on Amazon.

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Nonduality Magazine has published a new discussion with Rodney about his work and book. The extensive and wide-ranging interview was done by John LeKay, the magazine's editor.

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"Loved the book, Rodney. Enjoyed it as much as John Wheeler's first book, Awakening to the Natural State. My favourite quote of yours was "you are no more your personal history than you are your toothbrush." I like the fact that you included little tidbits of your life and surrounds. It felt more like reading a book on travel or history than some of the other textbook style books on nonduality. I think for anyone serious about a direct approach, your book and John Wheeler's are the two to have." -- Ian

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A Vastness All Around: Awakening to Your Natural State is Rodney's first collection of essays, discussions, interviews, and powerful pointers. It can be ordered directly from the publisher at Lulu Press.

If you would like to meet Rodney, have him to discuss nonduality, sign books, or read, you can email him at: writerguy@fastmail.fm. Such events are self-organized, so funding is key, with groups and universities that can cover travel expenses getting priority. And much appreciation!

4 comments:

again, without knowing how to say what I say, I try to express my love for the magical little letters that are read on the "Radiance of Being."

Love passes through the screen anddeeply touchingas a virtual hug,magically relaxes the senses,arranges the room, decorate the table,serves the food, put flowers in vases,in our home, that same housethat never changed.

I know that is not common fix a poem,but is missing one sentence what I wrote...and then...I rewrite...

Love passes through the screendeeply touchingas a virtual hug,magically relaxes the sensesand assuming the human formarranges the room, decorate the table,serves the food, put flowers in vases,in the same housethat never changed.